Introductory description

Even the best manufacturing system design is not effective unless it is operated and managed effectively. Increasingly, factories of the future will incorporate many emerging technologies that take over some of the planning and management tasks currently done by humans, while also enabling more sustainable and resource-efficient operations. This module will introduce conventional Operations Management and then explore the potential impact of digital-technologies on operational decision-making, productivity and sustainability, including their role in reducing environmental impact and supporting responsible use of resources. It will also examine the implications of these developments for inter-firm collaborative or networked production on a global scale, with particular attention to sustainability challenges across international supply networks. When this module is delivered on any overseas programme, it is delivered in a 2-week block rather than over 4 weeks.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Operations Management and Strategy;
Planning and Control;
Forecasting;
Capacity Management,
Inventory Management;
Supply Chain Management;
Sustainability - Corporate Social Responsibility;

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Critically contrast the strategic approaches of conventional and digital manufacturing, considering their implications for operational performance, decision-making, and sustainability.
• Evaluate methods used to plan and execute conventional manufacturing with the opportunities and threats that digital-manufacturing brings.
• Analyse how digitalisation transforms operations management in a global context.
• Assess the benefits and limitations of adopting digital manufacturing within global supply chains, with particular attention to sustainability and implementation.

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Subject specific skills

Construct a production schedule under constraints of resource capacity, material and time;
Calculate common measures of operational performance;

Transferable skills

Dealing with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate their conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences;
Independent learning ability required for continuing professional development.